EMC adding open sauce to Decho mix

Update Storage giant EMC is rumoured to have bought SourceLabs, a Seattle-based open source startup with nifty software technology for identifying developer problems and finding answers, for its Decho 'digital echo' business unit.

Decho was formed late last year by combining EMC's Mozy online backup product and Seattle-based Pi, the Paul Maritz personal information startup, to provide technology for businesses and consumers using cloud storage and information handling services. When Maritz was selected by EMC boss Joe Tucci to run VMware a new CEO was recruited for Decho, Harel Kodesh, like Maritz an ex-Microsoft executive. He is also president of EMC's cloud infrastructure business which includes the Atmos cloud storage product.

Trying to find a match between SourceLabs products and services and Decho's is tricky. Byron Sebastian, an ex-BEA executive, started SourceLabs, and the company's purpose is to help "Linux and Open Source developers and administrators make the most of their Linux and Open Source software by developing products and services to help better support and manage Open Source software." How does that fit into cloud computing?

SupportSuite is SourceLabs' developer problem identification and resolution database search service, looking into a database of 16 million known Linux and Java problems. SASH is its "open platform for rapid Java web application development." SourceLabs also looks after Swik.net, a community-based resource for open source developers.

EMC may be looking to create an open source developer ecosystem for Decho and/or it may see a technology platform in SupportSuite that can help users describe something and have Decho find information about it. On the other hand, it may just have recruited a bunch of developers.

SourceLabs received $7m in venture funding in October 2006, and has apparently been trying to sell Swik.net. When EMC and SourceLabs wake up in America this afternoon we'll be able to see if we can wrap some steak around this sizzle.

Update: An EMC spokesperson sent us this statement: "EMC has acquired some of the assets of SourceLabs and has hired a number of the company's employees. SourceLabs continues to operate as a standalone business. SourceLabs' acquired assets will operate within EMC's Cloud Infrastructure Business." There is no information available yet about which assets have been acquired. ®